KOPITES queued in their thousands to see their hero Michael Owen when he made a flying visit to Ellesmere Port on Thursday ­ three days before he helped Liverpool destroy Manchester United at Anfield.

The Liverpool and England striker was signing copies of his latest book at Borders on the Colesium Leisure Park.

Borders spokesman Mark Graham says the event was a huge success.

He said: 'The queues were just amazing. Michael did the signing as a one-off and there are no plans to hold another anywhere. He was only supposed to be here for one hour but in the end it turned into a two-and-a-half hour marathon.

'He signed more than 1,000 copies of his photobiography. Sadly some people didn't manage to get one but I'm sure they will understand. Michael would still have been here at Christmas with the size of the queues.'